Graded Stakes Review – 14th January 2023
A full field of 14 turned out for the only Grade I race of the sim world last weekend, PEKAYS REMEMBRANCE STAKES over six furlongs on the turf. The race in New Zealand was open to all three year olds and older and the biggest share of the $750,000 purse went to appalachia’s five year old gelding WASH RINSE REPEAT who held on gamely under Argentinean based jockey E. Cerda to have his head in front on the line. This was his fifth Grade I victory and third in a row after scoring most recently in the BB Turf Sprint and King Kong Sprint. The son of Sea the Stars started as favourite and paid $14.20 for the win, posting a 114 speed figure. Finishing best of all into second was kobra5’s BEACH GLASS under a strong drive from F. Gossett and was only just denied his own hat-trick of wins. I’m sure there will be more chances in the future for the improving four year old sprinter. DISCUSS IT LATER kept on strongly to take third, beaten by under a length. Mehmas’s five year old, a $100,000 claim, ran creditably from the widest gate following on from his Grade II victory the time before. Stakes winner FAMILY DAY OUT in his first attempt in graded company, finished a close fourth for marky45777. He should find compensation in a sprint Grade II or III somewhere. Six year old MINESHAFT IS READY finished fifth and was retired by stockswami2 after amassing over $1m in prize money. MIGHTY CONAN and PARKINSON passed the post sixth and seventh, plugging on passed beaten horses inside the final furlong.
Florida hosted the BUCK DHARMA HANDICAP, a Grade II race over 11 furlongs on the turf track for four year olds and up. Riponred’s four year old RED BRENIN took the win by an impressive two and a half lengths after taking the lead two furlongs out and posting a 120 speed figure. The improving son of Galileo notched up six wins in a row in a run that started in a maiden in Germany last June, all over 11 and 12 furlongs. The win paid $21.30 with another victory in the impressive career of jockey Z. Ayya. DANCING WITH STARS filled the second placing in his first try in graded company. Sjmeola11’s gelding raced up with the pace but had no answer to the winners’ late speed. Mtkgrs3’s I’M THE ANSWER finished fast into third after racing in rear for much of the contest, with the front running MAYOM fourth.
The Grade II MARCOS FOOTWEAR HANDICAP took place in California over 10 furlongs on the grass. Ozzybred1’s CHARITABLE GESTURE recovered from a disappointing run in the Grade I Millwood Cup to comfortably take this one by over two lengths, taking the lead over a furlong out and going further away at the line. The win paid a nice $25.20 and the five year old posted a career best 117 speed figure. Favourite CRAY FRANKEL finished second for trainer dmbwr. The dual grade I winner looked dangerous two furlongs out but didn’t have the speed of the winner. Stakes winner THE LEGEND WITHIN was a four length third for teacherlay10, with front runner THIS IS VENGEANCE fading into fourth. RYAN’S RANK made eyecatching late headway to snatch fifth.
Still in California, this time on the dirt track, was the PABLO VERCES HANDICAP. Another grade II event over six furlongs for four year olds and over for the $375,000 purse. PRINCE OF STYLE came out on top by just less than a length with a 114 speed figure. Redhill10’s five year old stayed on best of all after racing handy in his first attempt in a graded race. Stepping up from his stakes win last time out, the son of Cairo Prince paid $14.00 for the win. Heubeck’s AKR RAYDINI couldn’t quite get close enough to trouble the winner but was also trying this grade for the first time after a stakes victory the run before. SWEAR DA GOD didn’t manage to complete a four timer of wins in third place but was beaten only a length. FROZEN WITH JOY kept on past the weakening front runners to grab fourth.
There was a marathon Grade II race in Ohio over the maximum 16 furlongs on dirt. THE BUCKEYE STAYER attracted nine runners and was won in impressive style by the five year old CRY ME A GEE. After mixed fortunes in turf Grade I events, statusquo’s gelding returned to dirt and skated away from the field to win this by over five lengths. Settled in midfield, he eased through the field to lead down the stretch and post 110 for speed and paid $8.80 for the win. Nomadic’s four year old KIAMA CABARET finished in second, just holding on from the fast finishing MALUMA. Puracrema’s former Grade I winner coming from a hopeless position, just failing by inches to snatch the runner up position. Front running GIANT’S PROSPECTOR faded into fouth, beaten 10 lengths.
The second Grade II dirt marathon was THE PITTSBURGH STAYER in Pennsylvania. Only six mares made it to the starting gates for this one with favourite TROMPETTIA easily taking the prize under jockey P. Haynes. It was a deserved win for trainer koza after some fine races in defeat of late. The daughter of Empire Maker took the lead at half way and was not stopping, posting a figure of 101 whilst being eased down before the line. Amir1789’s DYNA’S RAPTURE stayed on at one pace to comfortably hold second place and bringing an end to her run of three wins. Longshot PRESIDENT GRANT was well beaten by over 15 lengths in third.
The final Grade II race of the week was in Sweden over 11 furlongs on the dirt track. The mares only DISCO INFERNO STAKES was taken down by liam11’s five year old THE HOOK by almost two lengths. The stakes winning daughter of Uncle Mo was never far from the lead and took over four furlongs out and held on for a speed rating of 113. Mamaseal’s hat-trick seeking mare GALILEI’S VIEW kept on strongly down the stretch to claim runner up, with texcat’s favourite CONCUSSIVE INDY also doing his best work late in the race to finish third. WINTER COOKIE was fourth and immediately retired to start her new broodmare career.
Desertdog’s three year old colt TRASH EATER finished late and fast to claim the mile turf Grade III JELLYTON STAKES in New Zealand for his third career victory. Also in New Zealand, DUBAWI’S PORT did enough to win the GARY TRENT STAKES over 12 furlongs on the turf. Harrylanz’s five year old held off ALL IN A DREAM, who finished like rocket into second. Abcd2’s lightly raced seven year old mare SELL LOW led all the way to take down THE LEADING LADY Grade III contest over six furlongs in Florida and completing a four timer in the process. And finally, THE KHARTOUM CHALLENGE I in Dubai was won by over three lengths by DEEPEST NIGHTMARE. Plano17’s four year old smoothly winning the dirt mile event with a 115 speed rating.